Window-cleaner



S. B; BEDELL.

Wmnow CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPLZI, 1917.

Patented Oct. 12, 1920.

INVENTOR jww, 45, M '17 his attorney PATENT OFFICE.

SPENCER B. BEDELL, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

WIND OW-CLEANER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 12, 1920.

Application filed September 21, 1917. Serial No. 192,525.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SPENCER B. BEDELL, a citizen of the United States, residing in Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in WVindow-Cleaners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to figures of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

Like figures of reference refer to like parts.

This invention relates to window cleaners, particularly those used for cleaning wind shields on automobiles or other motor driven vehicles.

One object of this invention is to provide a device for cleaning the outside of the win dow, while manually operating it from the inside. Another object is to provide a cleaner which is adapted to clean a wide path across the upper glass of the windshield, so that two persons, sitting side by side upon the front seat, shall be able to see the road ahead at the same time. A further object is to provide a cleaner which shall automatically return to its resting place, when moved therefrom for cleaning purposes, after being released at the end of a cleaning journey across the glass. A further object is to provide a durable and substantial wind shield cleaning device which in its construction, shall be in keeping with that of the car upon which it is designed to be attached. Another object is to make the cleaner frame in parts, held together elastically, so as to adapt the same to varying degrees of width between the top of the sash and the bottom of the glass, as the frame is moved thereon.

Vith these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction of a cleaner, including clamping means for supporting the same on the side of the sash, a squeegee positioned upright on the outside of the glass, a slender frame surrounding the glass transversely, to support the squeegee thereon, a roller on the frame at the top, to track upon the long upper part of the sash, means for pressing the squeegee against the glass, cord or cords attaching the said frame to the said clamping means and other means, including a winding device, to take up the cord and draw the said frame on to the said clamping means, after releasing the squeegee frame at the end of a cleaning ourney.

Two embodiments of this invention are illustrated in the drawings and are hereinafter described, the operation is explained and what I claim is set forth.

In the drawings, I

Figure l is a front elevation of my device, attached to a fragment of a windshield, looking forward toward the road.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of said device.

Fig. 3 is a top plan of the device and windshield shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the winding spools detached.

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of a modified form of my invention shown in the previously mentioned figures.

Fig. 6 is a top plan of the modified form shown in Fig. 5.

In the figures, referring particularly to the Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, upon one of the side posts 1, is pivotally mounted the sash 2, by means of the pivotal binding clamp 3, which is attached direct to the side bar 4, of the sash 2. 5 is the top cross bar of the sash 2. A pane of glass 6 is supported in the sash 2. Spaced close to the pane 6, and having the upper edge parallel to the lower edge of the pane 6, is a lower pane 7. Upon the side bar 4 is removably fixed a clamping piece 8, upon which is pivotally supported an evener bar 9. Mounted upon the cross bar 5 is a bent bar 10, forming a part of the frame of my device. To the bent bar 10, is fixed a cross pin 11, upon which is journaled a roller 12, in direct contact with the top of the cross bar 5. On the outside of the pane 6, in contact therewith, is the squeegee 13, having a hollow back 14, which slidingly engages the leg 15, of the bar 10. In the lower part of the back 14, is a short threaded rod 16, which is adjustably' fixed to the back 14, by means of the set screw 17. Within the back 14 is a tension spring 18, fixed at one end to the rod 16, and at the other end to the leg 15, of the bar 10. The rod 16 passes through a hole in the splayed sheet metal bracket 19 and is fastened thereto by means of the nuts 20 and 21, in threaded engagement with the rod 16. The

bracket 19 has a silding fit between the panes 6 and 7,.bearing against the pane 6,

' in splayed engagement with the lower edge Y of the pane 6, as shown in Fig. 1. Integral with the bracket 19, is a short rod 22, which passes up through a roller bracket 23, having pivoted thereto soft rollers 24, 24 in engagement with the pane 6. The rod 22 concentrically engages a cap25, which is fiXed to a small tube 26, which also slidingly engages the rod 22. The upper end of the tube 26 is fixed to a cap 27. Journaled upon the tube 26, is a sectional-spool 28, composed of parts marked A and B, tongue and groovedtogether, mid-way of its length, at the point 29. Connecting the caps and 27 is a cylinder 30, the ends of which are partially cutaway on one quarter the circumference of the cylinder, forming recesses at 31 and 32. In the mid-space between the flanges of the portion A and B of the sectional spool 28, is a coiled spring 33, one end of which is attached to the spool 28 and the other end of which is attached to the cylinder 30. Wound upon'the upper portion A of the spool 28, is a cord 34'attached to the spool at one end, and attached 7 to the evener bar 9 at the other end. Wound upon the spool 28, portion B isa cord 35, attached to the spool at one end and to the evener bar 9, at'the other end. The cords 34 and 35 are wound in the same direction upon the sectional spool 28 and the spring 33 is attached to the spool 28 and the cylinder 30,

in a manner to be wound up, as the cords 34 and 35 are unwound. The bar 10 has av leg 36 passing down through a roller bracket 37, through the cap 27,. and part way into the tube 26, having a sliding fit therewith. lVithin the tube 26 is a tension spring 38 V anchored at one end to the rod 22 and at the other end to the leg 36, of the rod 10.

J ournaled upon the roller bracket 37 and in 7 contact with the pane 6,. are rollers 39, 39. The cylinder 30 forms a handlewhich the operator can take hold of when drawing the cleaner across the pane 6. i

' r 7 Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, the mechanism gaged by the rods43 and 44, to which are fixed the respective clamps 45 and 46, which aremade fastfto the side bar 4 of the sash 2. The caps 41 and 42 each have tired thereon,

a rubber band 47, which lies in contact with the pane 6 to prevent rattling between the caps and the pane of glass 6. The squeeee 48 bears against thefpane 6. In the back 49 of the squeegee 48 slidingly'passes a leg 50, of a bent bar 51, which has a leg 52, in sliding. engagement with the handle .53.

passes up into and is adjustably fixed to the hollow back 49, of the squeegee 48; The leg 52 of the cross bar 51 is elastically connected with the rod 54, by means of a spring similar to the spring 38, shown in Fig. 1. In the back 49,-of the squeegee 48, is a spring similar to the spring. 18, shown in Fig. 2,

and connects the lower fixed rod within the back 49 with the sliding leg 50, of the cross bar 51. Fixed transversely to the legs '50 and 52,'is a pin 57, upon which is journaled a roller 58, adapted to track upon the cross bar 5 of the sash2.. Attached to the handle 53 are two cords 59 and 60 similar to the cords 34 and 35. The cords 59 and 60 are connected with a sectional spool similar to the sectional spool 28, which is spring wound in a similar way, all inside the cylinder 40. In order to properly position the handle 53 with respect to the pane 6 and the squeegee 48 I provide two rubber rollers 61 and 62 journaled on the ends of the handle 53. r a

In operation, referring particularly to the form of my device shown "in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the operator takes hold of the cylinder 30 and draws it away from the side bar 4, causing the squeegee 13 to wipe across the outside of the pane 6, and at the same time the cords 34 and 35 pulling upon the evener bar 9, rotate the'sectional spool 28, winding up the spring 33. 'Upon releasing the device, the spring 33 is free to rotate the twinspool 28, winding up the cords 34 and 35, until the cylinder and attachments are restored automatically to their normal position at the side bar 4. In traveling across the windshield there is apt to be encountered varying widths between the top of the cross bar 5 and the lower edge of the pane 6.

The springs'18 and 38 here come into play to make the frame of my device elastic to always maintain contact at the top and hot tom'with the sash 2. The splayed bracket 19, held indirectly, by the springs of the frame, up against the lower'edge of the pane. 6, serves with the roller 12, to main upon the pane 6. Thiselastic feature also overcomes any tendency of the device to' rattle up or down. The squeegee 13 bears from a vertical position the evener bar 9 will equalize the tension in the cords 34 and tain the squeegee frame in vertical alinement V 35. One cord would be slack and the other taut if the ends of these cords were permanently anchored individually.

In operating the form of my device shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the operator draws the handle 53 away from the side bar 4:, of the sash 2 and thereby unwinds the cords 59 and 60 from the sectional spool within the casing d0, winding up the spring attached thereto. During the journey across the pane 6, the squeegee 48 wipes the same on the outside and upon releasing the handle 53, the spring attached to the sectional spool revolvesthe same to wind up the cords 59 and 60.

\Vhile the cleaning device herein shown and described as applicable to a windshield, the same may be modified in detail to adapt it for use on any window having parallel or concentric passageways, one above and one below the window pane upon which it is adapted to operate, in a manner to have the frame-work traverse the passage ways. Modifications other than the one herein shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, I therefore do not wish to be confined to the details herein illustrated and described. My device is applicable to windows in front of pilots on boats, on locomotives, street cars, etc.

Having described my inventlon, I claim,

1. In a window cleaning device, a frame comprising two U-shaped members, each adapted to include a portion of a window therebetween, having the legs of each U on opposite sides of said window, elastic means joining said members to draw the same in contact with said window, a squeegee on one side of said window in bearing contact with the glass thereof and fixed to one of said members, and in sliding engagement with the other of said members, retaining means upon said frame in contact with said window, adapted to hold said squeegee agalnst the glass of said window, and returning means connecting said frame with one side of said window and adapted to return said frame to its normal position, when released by the operator at the end of a journey across the said glass.

2. In a window cleaning device, a frame comprising two U-shaped members, each adapted to include a portion of a window therebetween, having the legs of each U on opposite sides of saidwindow, elastic means joining said members to draw the same in contact with said window a squeegee on one side of said window in bearing contact with the glass thereof and fixed to one of said members, and in sliding engagement with the other of said members, a bearing roller journaled on said frame to be in contact with said glass, opposite said squeegee, to hold the same against the said glass, and

returning means adapted to return said frame to its normal position, when released by the operator at the end of a journey across the said glass.

3. In a window cleaner, a frame adapted for movement on said window, a squeegee attached to said frame and positioned to contact the glass of said window, means on said frame adapted to press said squeegee against said glass, frame returning means, comprising two members, adapted to draw said frame into normal resting position on said window, one of said members including a clamp attachable to said window, the other of said members including a sectional winding spool having two spaced winding portions, a spring adapted to be wound by, and adapted to rotate said spool, flexible pieces connecting said winding portions with the clamped member, whereby a returning movement. is given said frame returning means in connection with the free winding action of said spring to wind said piece upon said spool.

t. In a cleaning device adapted for operation upon a sash of a windshield of an automobile, a frame adapted to completely surround said sash, a roller journaled on said frame and positioned to track upon the top of the sash of said windshield, a squeegee adjustably positioned upon said frame to bear against the glass of said sash, rollers fixed to said frame bearing against the windshield to hold the squeegee against the glass on the opposite side thereof, means yieldingly joining the upper and lower parts of said frame, a clamp on the side of said sash, flexible means connecting said clamp with the movable part of said device, means adapted to take up said flexible means when the movable part of said device is released after the wiping action of said squeegee has been performed in one direction. 7

5. In a cleaning device adapted for movement on a window, a movable frame having two parts which together completely surround said window and have a pressing contact with the edges of said window on opposite sides of the length of its pane of glass, one of the parts of said frame being splayed in contact with one of said edges to maintain a normal position of said frame to said last named contacted edge, means for yieldingly holding said parts in contact with the said edges of said window and a squeegee connected with said frame and positioned thereon to wipe against said window during a movement of said frame.

6. In a cleaning device for attachment to a window, a frame movable on said window, a squeegee fixed to said frame for wiping contact with the glass of said window, an interlocked sectional spool journaled on said frame, said spool having the winding parts spaced, a clampadapted for attachment to said window, an equalizing turn said movable frame to its normal restmember pivoted midway of its ends on said ing place on said Window.

clamp, and flexible means in two parts, each i V SPENCER B BFDFLL part thereof connecting an end of said J J equalizing member Witha Winding part of Witnesses:

said spool, and other means for turning said LEONARD POULOS,

spool to wind up said flexible means to re- HELEN SAGER. 

